Acts 1:10 “And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;”
The glory of the scene described in Acts 1:9-11 defies human expression. Our Lord Jesus Christ rose up from the earth and was received into a cloud while His disciples watched. It is no wonder that “they looked stedfastly toward heaven”, they were amazed and in awe. Surely this scene was a source of comfort and hope for these men as long as they lived, giving them much strength to stand fast in the face of the “tribulation” (John 16:33) that came upon them. Throughout time men have turned toward “heaven” for comfort and strength during “tribulation” in life. “Nebuchadnezzar” reported that in a time of great distress in his life that, “I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:” (Daniel 4:34). As we live out our lives, often facing painful “tribulation”, it is good to prayerfully lift up our “eyes unto heaven”, for it is from there that we obtain “understanding” and with “understanding” we get strength to “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). It is “toward heaven” that we praise and honor “him that liveth for ever”. Furthermore, we should live out our lives in anticipation and sure hope of the day that our blessed Lord will “come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven”, then all the Children of God “shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (I Thessalonians 4:17) – What a glorious day that will be!